The idea of an electric car is hardly new, yet in recent years they’ve really become popular. However, some people are still on the fence about them, saying that they lack the character of older cars – both in terms of design and driver engagement. Whilst I do agree with the sentiment to a degree, there are some electric cars which do have character and charm. Today’s featured car, the Honda Super-One, is an EV that I believe can inject some life into the segment dominated by Teslas.
The Super-One is based on the N-One kei car which is sold exclusively in Japan with a 660cc inline 4 engine that at it’s maximum produces 63 HP. I don’t think this car has much more from it’s electric motor, but speed and power is not the point here. The point is big practicality in a little car that doesn’t take up a huge amount of room in dense cities. Look at the boot space and tell me the packaging is bad.
For a lot of people, this is the sort of electric car that will work perfectly for daily life. Soo many electric cars on the market these days are just loaded with things that I’d very much consider superfluous and unnecessary. Honda know what consumers want and won’t stuff around with things that don’t enrich the user experience.
Looking on the inside, there is a rather large amount of plastic but I don’t have a problem with that. The N-One is hardly a luxury car so I wouldn’t expect a heap of leather and wood grain on the dash of this car. What is neat though is the amount of interior room and the boxy styling that allows taller people to sit up straight. This is the Super-One’s trump card.
Now you probably want to know what I think about the styling and in short, I love it. The circular front lights and the simple front end give the car a charming face that is distinct and fun. The box fender flares remind me of the Honda City Turbo – in fact most of the styling cues have been borrowed from the 80’s compact which has garnered something of a cult following. The straight-cut lines are a contrast from the often swoopy ones that soo many electric vehicles have. This incessant focus on aerodynamics has created a bunch of bubbly, soulless vehicles that look like eggs. Honda has decided not to go down this route and I think it works because people were all over this thing!
I feel like if Honda play their cards right, this car will be a hit and help even more people enter the ever-growing EV market. The practicality, packaging and design all have the potential to be huge selling points. This EV looks about as far removed as you can get from the current styling trends, which shows how confident Honda are in it. Most people would not even care about the drivetrain upon first glance because it’s such a delight. Well, that’s what I hope anyway.
DevMacCars 